Dispensing device



Aug. 5, 1930. w. A. wHl'r'rLE 1,772,377

DISPENSING DEVICE Original Fild Feb. 9. i1928 Patented ug. 5, 1930 lUNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM ALOYSUS WHITTLEy F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR T O EMERSON DRUG COMPANY, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION 0F MARYLAND prsrnNsrNG DEVIGE Continuation 'of application Serial No.

This invention lrelates -to dispensing dey vices and more particularly to devices for dispensing powdered or granular material.

This application is a continuation of my prior application, Serial Number 253,066,

tiled February 9, 1928.

My invention relates to improvements in dispensing devices of the type illustrated and described in the C. R. W'arters Patent No.

963,342. Dispensing devices of this general type are adapted for use with a container' placed'in an inverted position. the dispensing device serving to dispense the contents of the container 1n measured portions into a glass or other receptacle placed below the dispensing device.

1n handling a powdered or granular mai that measured portions ot' the material may.

be discharged from the container for the same with a minimum of eiort and without the necessity of giving the device frequent attention to keep itin good operating condition. This is especially important where the material being dispensed is somewhat hygroscopic in which case the material has a tendency to adhere to the surfaces with which 3D it comes in contact.

It is an object of the present invention-to provide a simple and inexpensive dispensing device, the relatively moving parts of which are so formed as to provide a minimum of friction between these parts and to eliminate the possibility of the moving parts becoming clogged by an accumulation'on them ofthe material being dispensed. My inventioncontemplates the provision of a rotatable cup for alternately receiving charges of the material being dispensed and discharging the same, this cup cooperating with other parts i v to provide a -seal preventing accidental dis charge of the powdered or granular material, the several parts being so constructed and arranged as to provide a minimum area of contact between the rotatable cup and the other parts of the device. My invention also includes improved means .for scraping'the exterior surface'of the rotatable cup to pre- 253,066,`led February 9, 1928.v 1929. Serial No. 344,811.

This app1icaton :tiled March' 8,

vent accumulations thereon of the'niaterial being dispensed.

AThe various objects and advantages of my invention will be more apparent upon considering the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of my invention. In the accompanying drawings Fig. lis a perspective view of a dispensing device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section view of the dispensing device shownwin Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is aA vertical section view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 2, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is avertical section view of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 2, taken on line4--4of Fig.2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are detailed perspective views of parts of the device shown in Fig. 2.

'lhe embodiment of my invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, includes a base plate 1 carrying an upright standard 2 having an integral yoke 3 at the upper end thereof` and adapted to support a dispensing head 4. The head 4. may be secured to the yoke 3 by any suitable means, such as the set screw 5. The dispensing head particles of is substantially tubular inr form and is provided with an upper portion 6 adapted to 8o communicate. with a container 7 placed in an inverted positionv on the head so that the contents of the container may flow by gravity into the tubular head. A rotatable cup or barrel 8 is mounted near the lower portion 85 ot' thel head 4 and isv adapted to alternately receive charges of material from the container 7 and discharge the same into a glass or other receptacle 9.placed on the base plate l; v

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive, it will be not-ed that the cup or barrel 8- there illustrated comprises a cylindrical member .having closed ends 10 and 11. The cylindrical wall of the4 cup hasan opening 12 therein adapted to register with the tubular bore of the dispensing head 4. The cup 8 may be rotated by turning a knob 13 connccted to the cup by a, shaft 14. The end plate 11 forming a closure for one. end of 100 the' cup is provided with an external projection 15 adapted to servepas a stub shaft. or journal engaging a bearing in a journal bracket 16 depending .from the head4. It will be noted that this ljournal bracket 16 does not cover the entire surface of the end plate 11. Its function is primarily to provide a journal bearing for the adjacent end of the cup 8 and the' friction ofA the cup against the journal bracket is verv small because of the fact that this bracket engages only a relatively small portion of the end of the cup.

The dispensing head 4 is provided with an integral extension in the form of a ring 17 adapted to encircle the cup 8 near one end thereof, and it will be understood that the.

cup is rotatably mounted near the lower portion of the dispensing head by virtue O f its engagement with the ring 17 and with the journal bracket 16. The end plate 10, closing that end of the cup adjacent to the knob 13, is somewhat larger in diameter than the oylindrical portion o`f the cup, thereby providing a flange 18 engaging the ring 17. A pro-l jection 19 is provided on the dispensing head 4 for engaging the exposed side of the flange 18, thereby holding the cup l in proper position. The flange may be provided with a notch 20 adapted to register with the projection 19 when the cup occupies a certain 'position and when this condition obtains the cup may be readily withdrawn from the lower endjof the dispensing head. The end plate 10 may be provided with a transverse rib 10 which acts as a stop or abutment adapted to engage the projection 19 to limit the rotation of the cup and thereby ensure proper alignment of the opening in lthe cup with the bore of the dispensing head.

The dispensing head is provided with inte al extensions 21 and 22 extending at su stantially right angles to the journal bracket 16l and the ring 17 and having internal curved surfaces conforming in contour with the cylindrical external surface o f the cup 8. The inner surfaces of these extensions 21 and 22 cooperate withthe external *surface of the cup or barrel 8 to provide a seal for the lower end of the dispensing head 4. I have discovered that the dispensing device will operate most etliciently if these extensions 21 and 22 are so formed that they cover only a very .small portion of the dispensing cup. In general these extensions should be spaced apart around the exterior of the cup a distance greater than the width of the opening in the cup and I prefer to have them so formed as to expose the major portion of the cup. Infact the area of the inner surface of each of these extensions may be less than that of the opening in the cup, in which event these extensions are. incapable of completely closing the opening when the cup is being rotated. I have found that for all practical purposes it is possible to dispense measured portions of the powdered or grandular material with a sufficient degree of accuracy, even though the extension ieoes 21 and 22 are not large enough tohcomp etely-. close the opening in the-.dispensing chp and by thus reducing the area of the extension pieces 21 and 22 the friction between these j pieces and the cup is greatly reduced and the danger of having the parts become clogged is negligible. To further ensure free operation of the device under all conditions I may provide radially extending scraping edges 23 and 24 adapted to engage the exterior surface of the cup and remove therefrom all particles which have a tendency to adhere thereto. As illustrated in the drawing the scraping edges 23 and 24 are located at 'the lower extremities of the housing extensions 21 and 22, thus being adapted to scrape almost the entire .ex-

'terior surface of the cup 8. The scraping edges are so located as to scrape all portions of the cup registeging with the sealing portions of the head or housing. D

Where my invention is used inthe form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or in any equivalent form, it will be found that the device will be very easy to operate and will be in good operatin condition at all times, even though used or the purpose of dispensing material having a considerable tendency to adhere to the surfaces with which i it comes in contact. In general thisresult is brought about by reducing to a minimum the area of contact between the rotatable cup and all parts associated therewith, thereb reducing the friction between the cup an the other parts of the -device andy preventing the device from becoming clogged by an accumulation on the parts thereof of the material being dispensed. The efficiency of the device vmay be improved by providing Scrapers, as

above described, and by this invention dispensing devices of the type under consideration are rendered more useful for the purwhich they have previously been employed and they can beused for handling materials impossible to handle efficiently with the dispensingsdevgces heretofore employed.

Itis to be understood that my invention is not limited to the' details of construction exterior surface of said cylindrical cup to form a seal for'said head, said portions being hollow cylindrical cup rotatably supported j by said head and having an openin therein for alternately receiving material om said container and discharging the same, said head having portionscooperating with the vexterior surface of said cylindrical ycup to form a seal for said head, each of said portions having less areathan the opening in said cup.`

3. in a device of the character described.

a tubular head having means for communieating with a dispensing container, and a hollow cylindrical cup rotatablysupported by said head and having an openin therein for alternatel receiving material rom said container and7 discharging the same, said head having portions 'cooperating with the exterior surface of. said cylindrical cup to form a seal for said head, said portions being spaced apart around said cup a distance n greater than the width of the opening in said cup, and said portions having radially projecting scraping edges at the lower extremities thereof for scraping the exterior of the cup.

iso

4. In a device of the character described a tubular head, a receiving and dispensing cup rotatably mounted at the base thereof, extensions depending from said head and housing the upper portion of said cup, and radially projecting scraper edges formed internally Y of said extensions at the lower extremities thereof and extending lon 'tudinally of and enga-ging the external sur ace of said cup.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature. WILLIAM ALOYSIUS WHI'ITLE. 

